Defensiveness, Cynical Hostility and Cardiovascular Reactivity: A Moderator Analysis

Abstract

We examined the interaction of a defensive need for approval with cynical hostility, in the prediction of pressor and heart rate reactivity to a stressful mental arithmetic task. For both systolic blood pressure and heart rate, analyses revealed the predicted interaction between defensiveness and cynical hostility; subsequent analyses showed significant correlations of defensiveness with systolic blood pressure and heart rate reactivity only among the high cynical hostility subjects. These analyses support the theory and empirical findings linking the conflicting traits of cynical hostility and defensiveness to cardiovascular reactivity and, quite possibly, to stress-related coronary disease.

Psychophysiological Cardiovascular Functioning in Hostile Defensive Women

“…As well, a field study conducted with paramedics showed a higher cardiac response by people with a high hostility defensive when they deal with stress situations (Jamner, et al, 1991). These results, usually obtained from real situations, appear to be supported by laboratory studies (Jorgensen, et al, 1995;Shapiro, et al, 1995;Helmers & Krantz, 1996;Larson & Langer, 1997;Palmero et al, 2002;Palmero et al, 2007), which indicates the existence of a subgroup of people who are characterized by high "Defensive Hostility" (DH), as well as a greater cardiovascular response. In general, DH individuals show greater cardiovascular response during the task phase that other groups can be formed when combining hostility and defensiveness variables (Larson & Langer, 1997).…”

Autonomic characteristics of defensive hostility: Reactivity and recovery to active and passive stressors

“…In accord with research indicating that HD men display heightened HR reactivity to active stressors (eg., Jorgenson et al, 1995), HD men were expected to display the most pronounced HR reactivity to the VG in comparison to LD men. Although HD men did display more HR reactivity to the VG in comparison to LD men, the difference was ns.…”

“…In accord with previous investigations (eg., Mente & Helmers, 1999), HD men were expected to present elevated baseline BP. Post hoc analyses on reactivity scores were expected to confirm previous findings (eg., Jorgenson et al, 1995) with HD men presenting the most pronounced HR increases from baseline in response to the VG. Finally, the HD group was expected to display attenuated recovery scores with the least change in CV activity from baseline in comparison to the LD group.…”

“…A series of investigations in both laboratory and field settings have revealed that HD men exhibit greater CV responses to stressors in comparison to high hostile, low defensive (LD) men (Helmers & Krantz, 1996;Jorgenson et al, 1995;Jamner et. al., 1991).…”

Baroreflex mechanisms in major depression

“…The following scales were used for both samples: 1) The Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (CM) reflects a cynical and mistrusting attitude toward others (Cook and Medley, 1954); 2) The Spielberger Anger Expression Scale (Spielberger, 1988) provides scores on two dimensions of anger expression, Anger In (ANGIN) and Anger Out (ANGOUT), plus total Anger Expression (ANGTOT); 3) The Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) measures the general disposition to experience anxiety frequently (Spielberger, 1979); 4) The MarloweCrowne Scale of Social Desirability (MC) indicates a tendency not to report negative emotional states or traits (Crowne and Marlowe, 1960), which we label as "defensiveness" (Jorgensen et al, 1995).…”